lidocaine (Lidoderm)

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

GENERIC NAME: lidocaine

BRAND NAME: Lidoderm

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Lidocaine is an amide-type, local anesthetic
medication available in a patch form. Lidocaine, like other local anesthetics
causes a loss of sensation by reducing the flow of sodium in and out nerves to
decrease the initiation and transfer of nerve signals. The FDA approved
lidocaine patch in March 1999.

DOSING: The recommended dose for lidocaine patches is to apply up to three
patches, for up to 12 hours within a 24-hour period. Apply patches to intact
skin to cover the most painful area; apply to intact skin, not over blisters or
other skin that is not intact.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Lidocaine patches should be used with caution with
anti-arrhythmia medications like amiodarone (Cordarone), propafenone (Rhythmol),
sotalol (Betapace), tocainide (Tonocard) and mexiletine (Mexitil) because such
combinations can affect heart rate and rhythm and cause other additive side
effects.

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